锯齿新米虾对Cu2+和毒死蜱毒性响应研究

为研究水生生物对水体中重金属和有机磷农药毒性的响应,研究了锯齿新米虾暴露在Cu2、毒死蜱单一溶液和毒性1:1混合溶液下的响应状况,同时采用相加指数法对混合毒性进行了评价.单一毒性试验结果表明:毒死蜱对锯齿新米虾的毒性显著高于Cu2+p ＜0.01); Cu2+对锯齿新米虾未觉察反应浓度(NOEC)和最低觉察反应浓度(LOEC)分别为1.78 mg· L-1、2.40mg·L-1,24、48、72和96 h的LC50分别为6.41、4.75、420和3.44 mg·Lq;毒死蜱对锯齿新米虾NOEC和LOEC分别为0.04 μg·L-1、0.07 μg· Lj,24、48、72和96 h的LC50分别为035、0.17、0.11和0.06 μg· L;参考鱼类毒性分级标准,Cu2对锯齿新米虾为高毒,而毒死蜱为剧毒.混合毒性试验结果表明:采用Cu2和毒死蜱毒性1∶1进行试验时,暴露时间为24、48、72和96 h的相加指数(D分别为0.02、045、1.86和223,即混合毒性为协同作用.通过研究锯齿新米虾对Cu2、毒死蜱单一和联合毒性的响应,可为水环境污染与防治、物种多样性保护提供科学依据.     

硝基苯对3种中国土著水生生物的毒性

以中国林蛙(Rana chensinensis)蝌蚪、中华圆田螺(Cipangopaludina cahayensis)和日本沼虾(Macrobrachiumnipponense)3种我国代表性土著生物为对象,通过半静态试验研究了硝基苯暴露对这3种生物的急性毒性.采用美国环境保护局(USEPA)的Trimmed Spearman-Karver(TSK)法得到硝基苯的急性毒性p(96 h,LC50分别为:林蛙蝌蚪,117.04 mg·L-1;中华圆田螺,104.23 mg·L-1;日本沼虾,0.033 7 mg·L-1.基于p(96 h,LC50)值,取0.01为安全系数,安全浓度ps,分别为:林蛙蝌蚪,1.17 mg·L-1;中华圆田螺,1.04 mg·L-1;日本沼虾,0.34 μg·L-1.3种受试生物对硝基苯毒性反应的敏感性大小依次为:日本沼虾＞中华圆田螺＞林蛙蝌蚪.对照鱼类急性毒性实验的毒性分级标准,硝基苯对日本沼虾属于剧毒物质,而对林蛙蝌蚪和中华圆田螺则属于中等毒性物质.     

毒死蜱(CPF)对克氏原螯虾的急性毒性及组织病理观察

采用静水生物测试法研究毒死蜱(CPF)对克氏原螯虾(Procambarus clarkii)的急性毒性效应及克氏原螯虾的组织病变情况并进行安全评价。设定0、2、10、20、40和80μg·L-1 6个CPF浓度梯度进行急性暴露试验,结果表明,CPF浓度升高对克氏原螯虾产生较大毒性,24、48和96 h半致死浓度〔ρ(LC50)〕分别为(28.24±2.81)、(19.50±2.03)和(13.13±1.70)μg·L-1,ρ(LC50)随着暴露时间延长呈显著下降趋势,符合双曲线衰减模型(r=0.999 9,P<0.000 1),安全浓度为(2.79±0.31)μg·L-1。组织病理观察发现,染毒虾心脏上皮细胞增生,心肌肌束间充满血淋巴细胞;神经细胞肿大,尼氏体溶解消失,细胞由多极形状变为圆形,神经纤维坏死并解体;肝胰腺小管收缩并充血,空泡增加;鳃组织空泡化,表面出现黑色素沉积,被多量血淋巴细胞浸润;肌肉纤维萎缩并溶解。     

丘陵地区水稻田使用毒死蜱对水体的污染及其生态风险

选择丘陵地区的小规模水稻田作为试验地,调查毒死蜱在该区域水稻田中的使用时间和使用量,监测不同时期水稻田进出水中毒死蜱残留水平.结果显示,毒死蜱使用后水稻田出水中毒死蜱残留水平高于进水,最高达26.07μg.L-1.从河流引入的进水中也存在毒死蜱残留,最高达3.23μg·L-1,说明上游农田已经对河水产生了污染.毒死蜱对斑马鱼(Brachydanio rerio)、大型溞(Daphnia magna)和斜生栅列藻(Scenedesmus obliquus)的急性毒性测定结果分别为:斑马鱼,ρ(96h,LC50)为1.11mg·L-1;大型溞,ρ(48 h,EC50)为1.44μg·L-1;斜生栅列藻,ρ(72 h,EC50)为0.193 mg·L-1.根据欧盟急性毒性风险评价标准进行评估,结果表明毒死蜱对水稻田周边水体中鱼类和藻类为低风险,对大型溞为有风险.     

亚硝酸盐和氨对日本沼虾肝胰腺代谢的影响

通过气质联用仪和液质联用仪的非靶向检测,结合主成分分析(PCA)和正交偏最小二乘法-判别分析(OPLS-DA)等方法,对日本沼虾肝胰腺进行代谢物分析,以研究在非致死剂量的亚硝酸盐或氨胁迫下,日本沼虾肝胰腺新陈代谢的变化。经亚硝酸盐(0.5 mg·L~(-1),以N计)胁迫2 d后,鉴定到具有显著差异的代谢化合物46个,涉及氨基酸代谢、脂肪酸代谢和甘油磷脂代谢等; p H=9.0时,氨(1.0 mg·L~(-1),以N计,即非离子氨氮为0.378 mg·L~(-1))胁迫后,鉴定出显著差异性代谢化合物52个,涉及三羧酸循环、氨基酸代谢和甘油磷脂等代谢通路。选择p H=9.0氨(1.0 mg·L~(-1))胁迫组对日本沼虾肝胰腺中的三羧酸循环进行定量验证实验,结果显示,日本沼虾肝胰腺中草酰乙酸含量与对照组相比在12 h显著升高,24 h和48 h后则与对照组无显著差异。α-酮戊二酸含量与对照组相比在12 h即有显著增加,24 h含量与对照组相比显著下降,48 h后与对照组相比无明显差异。推测p H=9.0时氨氮(1.0 mg·L~(-1))胁迫12 h即会对三羧酸循环产生影响。     

氰戊菊酯对河川沙塘鳢幼鱼的毒性效应

采用静水生物测试法,研究了氰戊菊酯(fenvalerate,FEN)对河川沙塘鳢(Odontobutis potamophila)幼鱼的毒性效应.结果显示,FEN对河川沙塘鳢幼鱼的24、48、72和96 h(t)的半数致死质量浓度ρ(LC50)(95％置信区间)分别为(3.19±1.38)、(1.66±1.02)、(0.98±0.69)和(0.70±0.49) μg·L-1,变化规律符合指数衰减模型ρ(LC50) =0.915 1 +15.012 3 ×exp(-0.075 8 ×t)(r=0.996 2),安全浓度为(0.13±0.97) μg·L-1.半数致死时间t(LT50)表现出显著的剂量[ρ(FEN)]效应,可用方程t(LT50) =2 653.467 6 ×exp[-5.590 4 ×ρ(FEN)]+56.378 7 ×exp[-0.209 5×ρ(FEN)](r=0.999 4)对其进行拟合.双因素方差分析显示,肝脏过氧化氢酶(CAT)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性及丙二醛(MDA)含量随FEN浓度的增加和暴露时间的延长而均呈显著变化(P＜0.05),但两个因素的交叉影响不显著(P＞0.05).暴露24 h时,4μg· L-1浓度组SOD和CAT活性达到峰值,随后开始下降,而此时各浓度组MDA含量无显著变化(P＞0.05),48和96 h时,4、6和10 μg·L-1浓度组MDA含量则表现为显著上升.暴露时间和FEN浓度的交互作用对鳃Na+ /K+-ATP酶活性影响显著(P＜0.05),暴露24、48和96 h时,高浓度(6和10 μg·L-1)组Na +/K+-ATP酶活性均呈现显著下降;上述指标可较好地用于评价FEN的毒性效应.组织病理观察发现,FEN污染对河川沙塘鳢幼鱼的鳃、肝脏均造成严重损伤:鳃丝紊乱,上皮细胞增生,柱状细胞破裂;肝细胞实质空泡化,胆管内皮细胞肥大、融合.     

9种杀虫剂对中华大刀螂幼虫的毒性

螳螂是田间控制害虫种群增加的重要捕食性天敌之一。以中华大刀螂3龄幼虫(Paratenodera sinensis Saussure)为受试生物,利用9种常用杀虫剂配制成不同浓度梯度的药剂,通过喷雾法直接暴露,分别测定了LC50和死亡率来评价不同杀虫剂对中华大刀螂毒性和危害程度的影响。结果显示,9种杀虫剂对中华大刀螂幼虫的毒性(LC50值)差异很大,用药后24h的LC50在0.7182～347.7962mg·L-1之间,LC95在8.8057～1734.5650mg·L-1之间;用药后48h的LC50在0.3564～193.6887mg·L-1之间,LC95在3.8958～1548.3258mg·L-1之间;用药后72h的LC50在0.2232～115.3391mg·L-1之间,LC95在1.7730～530.6462mg·L-1之间。不同杀虫剂对中华大刀螂幼虫的毒性差异最高达到543.46倍。毒性大小依次为,高效氯氟氰菊酯﹥啶虫脒﹥联苯菊酯﹥毒死蜱﹥噻虫嗪﹥茚虫威﹥吡虫啉﹥阿维菌素﹥苏云金杆菌原粉(Bt)。根据田间推荐浓度处理的死亡率判断,毒死蜱、联苯菊酯、啶虫脒、高效氯氟氰菊酯为有害水平,Bt为中度有害水平,吡虫啉、茚虫威、噻虫嗪为微害水平,阿维菌素接近无害水平。根据LC50与田间推荐浓度的比值判断,阿维菌素、吡虫啉对螳螂种群数量不会产生太大影响;Bt、茚虫威和噻虫嗪对螳螂种群数量会产生一定危害;而毒死蜱、啶虫脒、联苯菊酯和高效氯氟氰菊酯将严重影响螳螂种群数量的稳定性。在24～72h范围内,不同杀虫剂LC50和LC95随施药时间的延长而降低,说明暴露时间越长毒性越大,危害程度也越大。建议在中华大刀螂生活范围内减少高效氯氟氰菊酯、联苯菊酯、啶虫脒和毒死蜱的施用,推荐杀虫剂田间使用量时,除考虑对防治对象的防效,还应考虑对天敌种群的危害,提高药剂使用安全性,保护天敌种群的稳定性。     

硫化物胁迫对日本沼虾呼吸代谢和能量代谢酶的影响

研究了硫化物暴露后日本沼虾细胞色素氧化酶(CCO)、琥珀酸脱氢酶(SDH)、延胡索酸还原酶(FRD)和乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)4种呼吸代谢酶及能量代谢酶-精氨酸激酶(AK)活性的变化规律.将日本沼虾暴露于0.6 mg·L~(-1)、2mg·L~(-1)的2个硫化物质量浓度组和不含硫化物的对照组水体中,暴露后0、2、12、24、48 h和解除暴露后48 h取肝胰腺和肌肉组织进行酶活性分析.结果显示:肝胰腺和肌肉组织SDH和CCO活性随硫化物质量浓度升高或暴露时间延长而显著降低(P<0.05).FRD、LDH和AK活性随硫化物质量浓度升高或暴露时间延长而显著升高(P<0.05).解除硫化物暴露后48 h,各质量浓度组酶活性与对照组无显著差异.上述酶活性还存在组织差异,肝胰腺呼吸代谢酶活性高于肌肉中相应酶活性,而AK活性与此相反.结果表明,硫化物胁迫导致日本沼虾有氧呼吸代谢减弱,无氧呼吸代谢增强,并动用其能量贮存物质磷酸精氨酸,产生更多ATP以适应外界不良环境.     

联苯胺对大型溞(Daphnia magna)的急性和慢性毒性试验

研究了联苯胺对大型溞(Daphniamagna)的急性毒性和慢性毒性.急性毒性试验结果表明,联苯胺对大型溞的ρLC50, 24h、ρLC50, 48h值分别为 1. 73mgL-1和 0. 89mgL-1. 21d生活周期试验结果表明,大型溞的生殖是对该化合物最为敏感的慢性毒性指标.联苯胺对大型溞生殖的无可见效应浓度(NOEC/Reproduction)为 0. 004mgL-1,最低可见效应浓度(LO EC/Reproduction)为 0. 012mgL-1.并据此计算出该毒物的最大允许浓度(MATC)为 0. 008 9mgL-1. 表 3参 19     

丙烯酰胺对大型溞(Daphnia magna)的急性和慢性毒性

丙烯酰胺对大型(Daphniamagna)的急性试验表明,丙烯酰胺对大型的24h LC50、48h LC50值分别为173.21和89.59mg·L-1。21d生活周期试验结果表明,大型的生殖指标是对该种化合物最为敏感的慢性毒性参数。丙烯酰胺对大型生殖的无可见效应浓度(NOEC)为1.56mg·L-1,最低可见效应浓度(LOEC)为3.13mg·L-1,并据此计算出该毒物的最大允许浓度(MATC)为2.47mg·L-1。     

Achieving Open Access to Conservation Science

Conservation science is a crisis discipline in which the results of scientific enquiry must be made available quickly to those implementing management. We assessed the extent to which scientific research published since the year 2000 in 20 conservation science journals is publicly available. Of the 19,207 papers published, 1,667 (8.68%) are freely downloadable from an official repository. Moreover, only 938 papers (4.88%) meet the standard definition of open access in which material can be freely reused providing attribution to the authors is given. This compares poorly with a comparable set of 20 evolutionary biology journals, where 31.93% of papers are freely downloadable and 7.49% are open access. Seventeen of the 20 conservation journals offer an open access option, but fewer than 5% of the papers are available through open access. The cost of accessing the full body of conservation science runs into tens of thousands of dollars per year for institutional subscribers, and many conservation practitioners cannot access pay‐per‐view science through their workplace. However, important initiatives such as Research4Life are making science available to organizations in developing countries. We urge authors of conservation science to pay for open access on a per‐article basis or to choose publication in open access journals, taking care to ensure the license allows reuse for any purpose providing attribution is given. Currently, it would cost $51 million to make all conservation science published since 2000 freely available by paying the open access fees currently levied to authors. Publishers of conservation journals might consider more cost effective models for open access and conservation‐oriented organizations running journals could consider a broader range of options for open access to nonmembers such as sponsorship of open access via membership fees. Obtención de Acceso Abierto a la Ciencia de la Conservación     

Some polyphagous Homoptera gain protection from their natural enemies by feeding on the toxic plantsSpartium junceum andErythrina corallodendrum (Leguminosae)

Summary Interactions were studied among alkaloid-containing legumes (Erythrina corallodendrum andSpartium junceum) and non-toxic plants (Citrus sinensis, Cucurbita moschata andEuphorbia tirucalli), several polyphagous homopterans,Aphis craccivora (Aphididae),Icerya purchasi, I. aegyptiaca (Margarodidae),Lepidosaphes ulmi (Diaspididae) andPlanococcus citri (Pseudococcidae), and some major natural enemies of these homopterans. Significant reductions in survival due to negative effects of alkaloid containing as compared with non-alkaloidal plants were recorded for the predatorsRodolia cardinalis andChilocorus bipustulatus, but not forCryptolaemus montrouzieri (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae),Chrysoperla carnea (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) andSympherobius sanctus (Neuroptera: Sympherobiidae). The development time of the larvae or pupae ofR. cardinalis, C. carnea andS. sanctus was longer on the toxic plants than on the non-toxic ones. The percentage of parasitism ofA. craccivora collected from the non-alkaloidal plantsVicia palaestina andMelilotus albus was much higher than that onS. junceum. The parasitoid complexes ofA. craccivora differed between both plant groups. The nutritive value of honeydew ofI. purchasi andA. craccivora, as expressed by the life span ofEncyrtus infelix (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) adults, was also investigated. Life spans were significantly longer when the wasps fed on honeydew produced on non-alkaloidal plants (C. sinensis andPittosporum tobira) than on alkaloid containing plants whenI. purchasi — but notA. craccivora — was the producer. It is suggested that the chemical defense ofE. corallodendrum andS. junceum is exploited by polyphagous phytophages to reduce predation. In nature, population growth and density of four of the investigated homopterans are conspicuously high when they developed on the alkaloid containing plant species, and very low on non-alkaloid plants. The efficiency of their natural enemies may be reduced by sequestration of alkaloids (or other toxic plant compounds) or their transfer into excreted honeydew. Therefore it is assumed that a generalist phytophagous homopteran may be protected from its natural enemies, although at different rates of efficiency, if it can safely sequester the host allelochemical when it develops on toxic species within its host range.     

Sequestration of cucurbitacin analogs by New and Old World chrysomelid leaf beetles in the tribe Luperini

Summary Two South American polyphagous leaf beetles,Diabrotica speciosa andCerotoma arcuata, selectively accumulated the bitter tasting compound 23,24-dihydrocucurbitacin D in their body after ingesting root tissues of cucurbit plants. Similarly, three Asian Cucurbitaceae-feeding specialists in the genusAulacophora were found to sequester the same compound. Cucurbitacin analogs were shown to deter feeding by a bird predator, indicating an allomonal role for these compounds in cucurbitacin-associated chrysomelid leaf beetles both of New and Old Worlds. The strong affinity to cucurbitacins, selective sequestration of the analogs and consequent protection from predators suggested an ecological adaptation mechanism developed in common among these two geographically isolated subtribes in the Luperini.     

Effects of Controlled Fire and Livestock Grazing on Bird Communities in East African Savannas

Abstract: In East Africa fire and grazing by wild and domestic ungulates maintain savannas, and pastoralists historically set fires and herded livestock through the use of temporary corrals called bomas. In recent decades traditional pastoral practices have declined, and this may be affecting biodiversity. We investigated the effects of prescribed fires and bomas on savanna bird communities in East Africa during the first and second dry seasons of the year (respectively before and after the rains that mark the onset of breeding for most birds). We compared abundance, richness, and community composition on 9‐ha burned plots, recently abandoned bomas, and control plots in the undisturbed matrix habitat over a 3‐year period. Generally, recently burned areas and abandoned bomas attracted greater densities of birds and had different community assemblages than the surrounding matrix. The effects of disturbances were influenced by interactions between primary productivity, represented by the normalized difference vegetation index, and time. Bird densities were highest and a greater proportion of species was observed on burned plots in the months following the fires. Drought conditions equalized bird densities across treatments within 1 year, and individuals from a greater proportion of species were more commonly observed on abandoned bomas. Yearly fluctuations in abundance were less pronounced on bomas than on burns, which indicate that although fire may benefit birds in the short term, bomas may have a more‐lasting positive effect and provide resources during droughts. Several Palearctic migrants were attracted to burned plots regardless of rainfall, which indicates continued fire suppression may threaten their already‐declining populations. Most notably, the paucity of birds observed on the controls suggests that the current structure of the matrix developed as a result of fire suppression. Traditional pastoralism appears critical to the maintenance of avian diversity in these savannas.     

What Every Conservation Biologist Should Know about Economic Theory

Abstract: The last century has seen the ascendance of a core economic model, which we will refer to as Walrasian economics. This model is driven by the psychological assumptions that humans act only in a self‐referential and narrowly rational way and that production can be described as a self‐contained circular flow between firms and households. These assumptions have critical implications for the way economics is used to inform conservation biology. Yet the Walrasian model is inconsistent with a large body of empirical evidence about actual human behavior, and it violates a number of basic physical laws. Research in behavioral science and neuroscience shows that humans are uniquely social animals and not self‐centered rational economic beings. Economic production is subject to physical laws including the laws of thermodynamics and mass balance. In addition, some contemporary economic theory, spurred by exciting new research in human behavior and a wealth of data about the negative global impact of the human economy on natural systems, is moving toward a world view that places consumption and production squarely in its behavioral and biophysical context. We argue that abandoning the straightjacket of the Walrasian core is essential to further progress in understanding the complex, coupled interactions between the human economy and the natural world. We call for a new framework for economic theory and policy that is consistent with observed human behavior, recognizes the complex and frequently irreversible interaction between human and natural systems, and directly confronts the cumulative negative effects of the human economy on the Earth's life support systems. Biophysical economics and ecological economics are two emerging economic frameworks in this movement.     

Effects of Coffee Management on Deforestation Rates and Forest Integrity

Knowledge about how forest margins are utilized can be crucial for a general understanding of changes in forest cover, forest structure, and biodiversity across landscapes. We studied forest‐agriculture transitions in southwestern Ethiopia and hypothesized that the presence of coffee (Coffea arabica)decreases deforestation rates because of coffee's importance to local economies and its widespread occurrence in forests and forest margins. Using satellite images and elevation data, we compared changes in forest cover over 37 years (1973–2010) across elevations in 2 forest‐agriculture mosaic landscapes (1100 km² around Bonga and 3000 km² in Goma‐Gera). In the field in the Bonga area, we determined coffee cover and forest structure in 40 forest margins that differed in time since deforestation. Both the absolute and relative deforestation rates were lower at coffee‐growing elevations compared with at higher elevations (?10/20% vs. ?40/50% comparing relative rates at 1800 m asl and 2300–2500 m asl, respectively). Within the coffee‐growing elevation, the proportion of sites with high coffee cover (>20%) was significantly higher in stable margins (42% of sites that had been in the same location for the entire period) than in recently changed margins (0% of sites where expansion of annual crops had changed the margin). Disturbance level and forest structure did not differ between sites with 30% or 3% coffee. However, a growing body of literature on gradients of coffee management in Ethiopia reports coffee's negative effects on abundances of forest‐specialist species. Even if the presence of coffee slows down the conversion of forest to annual‐crop agriculture, there is a risk that an intensification of coffee management will still threaten forest biodiversity, including the genetic diversity of wild coffee. Conservation policy for Ethiopian forests thus needs to develop strategies that acknowledge that forests without coffee production may have higher deforestation risks than forests with coffee production and that forests with coffee production often have lower biodiversity value. Efectos de la Administración Cafetalera sobre las Tasas de Deforestación y la Integridad de los Bosques     

Globalization of the Cashmere Market and the Decline of Large Mammals in Central Asia

As drivers of terrestrial ecosystems, humans have replaced large carnivores in most areas, and human influence not only exerts striking ecological pressures on biodiversity at local scales but also has indirect effects in distant corners of the world. We suggest that the multibillion dollar cashmere industry creates economic motivations that link western fashion preferences for cashmere to land use in Central Asia. This penchant for stylish clothing, in turn, encourages herders to increase livestock production which affects persistence of over 6 endangered large mammals in these remote, arid ecosystems. We hypothesized that global trade in cashmere has strong negative effects on native large mammals of deserts and grassland where cashmere‐producing goats are raised. We used time series data, ecological snapshots of the biomass of native and domestic ungulates, and ecologically and behaviorally based fieldwork to test our hypothesis. In Mongolia increases in domestic goat production were associated with a 3‐fold increase in local profits for herders coexisting with endangered saiga (Saiga tatarica).That increasing domestic grazing pressure carries fitness consequences was inferred on the basis of an approximately 4‐fold difference in juvenile recruitment among blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur)in trans‐Himalayan India. Across 7 study areas in Mongolia, India, and China's Tibetan Plateau, native ungulate biomass is now <5% that of domestic species. Such trends suggest ecosystem degradation and decreased capacity for the persistence of native species, including at least 8 Asian endemic species: saiga, chiru (Pantholops hodgsoni), Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus), snow leopard(Panthera uncia), khulan(Equus hemionus), kiang (E. kiang), takhi (E. przewalski), and wild yak (Bos mutus). Our results suggest striking yet indirect and unintended actions that link trophic‐level effects to markets induced by the trade for cashmere. Globalización del Mercado de Cachemira y la Declinación de Mamíferos Mayores en Asia Central     

The lichen-rich coastal heath vegetation on the isle of Anholt, Denmark — conservation and management

The high conservational value of the lichen-rich vegetation and landscape of the marine foreland Ørkenen on the isle of Anholt is treated from a Danish as well as a European perspective. The sensitivity of the lichen-rich vegetation to physical disturbance is emphasized. The impact of invasive species such asPinus mugo as well as the effect of atmospheric deposition of nutrients on the heaths at Anholt is described. Considerations related to the development of a management plan for Ørkenen are presented.     

Behavior and ecology of Old World Luperini beetles of the genusAulacophora (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Summary The attraction of Old World leaf beetles in the genusAulacophora to kairomones and parakairomones which are effective lures for New WorldDiabrotica andAcalymma were investigated. Beetles captured on sticky traps baited with single and multicomponent lures were no different from the control traps for two species ofAulacophora. Yellow colored traps and squash blossoms are attractive toAulacophora beetles which detect sub-microgram quantities of cucurbitacins on silica gel. Leaf feeding behavior and flight activity data are correlated with varietal preference of threeAulacophora species. The common response byDiabrotica andAulacophora to cucurbitacins reinforces the two groups' coevolutionary association with the Cucurbitaceae. The apparent lack of a common response toCucurbita blossom volatiles suggests recent evolutionary pathways are substantially different for these two groups of beetles.     

Importance of greater interdisciplinarity and geographic scope when tackling the driving forces behind biological invasions

Invasive non-native species are important drivers of ecosystem change, yet the driving forces of biological invasions themselves are poorly understood. Such information is essential to ensure policies focus on the most relevant drivers, and that future scenarios capture the full range of potential outcomes for invasive non-native species. I carried out a bibliometric analysis of articles published from 2000 to 2020 that address either invasive non-native species or biodiversity and ecosystem services and that also mention 1 or more drivers of ecosystem change. I examined 5 indirect drivers (demographic, economic, governance, sociocultural, and technological) and 6 direct drivers (climate change, invasive non-native species, land-use or sea-use change, natural hazards, pollution, and resource extraction). Using the Web of Science core collection of citation indexes, I undertook searches of article titles and keywords and retrieved 27,462 articles addressing invasive non-native species and 110,087 articles dealing with biodiversity or ecosystem services. Most research to date on biological invasions as well as on biodiversity and ecosystem services has focused on anthropogenic direct drivers of ecosystem change rather than indirect drivers. Yet currently, less than 18% of articles addressing biological invasions examined drivers of ecosystem change, a similar level to that found over 20 years ago for biodiversity or ecosystem services. Knowledge of the drivers of biological invasions is limited, emphasizes tractable drivers over those that require an interdisciplinary approach, and is biased toward developed economies. Drivers generally deemed important for biological invasions, such as governance and resource extraction, accounted for less than 2% of research effort. The absence of a systematic understanding of the forces that drive invasive non-native species and how they interact means that attempts to mitigate or forecast biological invasions are likely to fail. To address biological invasions requires a much better orientation of national and international research on drivers in relation to both their actual importance as well as their policy relevance.